Karamoja Presidential Industrial Hub transforms lives as State House plans Second skilling centre in the sub-region

What the report says

Watchdog Uganda reported that the Karamoja Zonal Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub in Napak District is training more than 240 young people in vocational trades, with State House officials presenting it as a route to jobs and self-employment. The article highlights 27-year-old Denis Opio from Lwamuge Village in Abim District, who has a physical disability and no formal schooling, and is now learning leather tanning and design, including making shoes, school bags and wallets.

The report says State House Comptroller Jane Barekye visited the hub on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, to review its implementation and impact. She met district and local government officials, youth leaders, SACCO representatives and beneficiaries from across Karamoja, including Moroto, Kotido, Napak, Abim, Nabilatuk, Nakapiripirit, Amudat, Karenga and Kaabong. Barekye directed leaders to form a regional committee to oversee the hub after the current leadership term ends and named Lorot John Bosco Kapel as regional SACCO manager.

According to the publisher, Kapel will monitor use of the Shs50 million revolving fund that President Yoweri Museveni allocated to each graduate SACCO. Barekye also said State House is working on tighter rules for choosing future SACCO beneficiaries, cautioned against coercing youth into training, and urged local governments to give hub graduates supply opportunities for items such as uniforms, furniture and beds.

Karamoja leaders asked for a second skilling hub to serve the northern part of the sub-region, with Kotido Municipality Mayor Peter Abrahams proposing Kotido and saying land was available. Eng. Raymond Kamugisha, State House’s Director of Presidential Projects and Industrial Hubs, said government was already planning another Karamoja hub in the next financial year and would add more courses.